Ryson Dual Track Spirals are an ideal solution for even more space savings because they allow 2 lanes of product flow within one spiral structure.

This week we shipped another one of our Dual Track Spirals for our Integrator partner, Garvey Corporation.

This 1300-400/2300-400 machine contains two independent lanes of 16” wide overlapping slats in a nine foot diameter footprint. In this case, Garvey will take the output of the case packer and split them into two lanes prior to the spiral. The high level palletizer requires a dual infeed (cases infeeding two-abreast). The spiral conveys various cases of cans of paint at 120 FPM at rates up to 75 cases per minute to a discharge height of 10’-6”.

Two tracks operate independently within one spiral structure. Both tracks can go up or down and can optionally be reversible. Only one drive motor is required for each track, resulting in substantial savings in energy, controls and systems integration. If you would like more information on our dual track spirals, visit ryson.com, download the spec sheet, or read more application stories on our weekly blog.

The Ryson Dual Track Spiral Conveyor allows two production lines to be conveyed inside one spiral.

This week we shipped three spiral conveyors to a food manufacturer in the South Atlantic area for our System Integrator, Motion Controls Robotics.

In their system design, they used two of our Model 1200-300 spirals to elevate sealed cases from two separate production lines, that were then transported to a Robotic Palletizer.

Because of space limitations near the palletizer, they chose our Dual Track Spiral to decline the cases down from a 16’-0” elevation to the floor level. Each lane on the dual is individually driven and controlled, giving them flexibility in the flow of product from each production line.

These spirals were shipped fully-assembled, minimizing implementation time and field installation costs.

The spiral has infeeds at two different infeed elevations, the inside lane is fed from the first level of the pick module, and the outside lane enters from the second level. They both discharge onto the 3rd level to a sortation system.

Looking at the ITW’s system layout and the room they had to work with, it was the perfect application of this space-saving vertical conveying system. You can read about the same Spiral in a story from our manufacturing plant.

Ryson recently built a Dual Track Spiral consisting of two 16” lanes with different discharge elevations.

Our integrator partner PeakLogix, designed it to handle totes in a multi-level order picking operation at a distributor of hospital supplies in Virginia.. Totes are transported through the first picking level and if the order is complete, it goes to the inside lane and is conveyed directly to a 12′-6″ elevation and is conveyed to the shipping area. If additional picks are required on the second level, the tote goes to the outside lane which exits at 10’-0”.

The advantage of the dual track spiral in this application is the space savings of servicing two elevations within a 9’-0” diameter footprint.

Our technician was dispatched to assist the PeakLogix millwrights in the re-assembly of the spiral, which was installed over a 3-day weekend.

This was the second 1300-400/2300-400 we have shipped this year that had multiple discharge elevations, both in distribution applications. For more information on the Ryson Dual Track Spiral Conveyor, please visit www.ryson.com, or download the Dual Track Product Spotlight.

Dual Lane Dual Spiral That handles 4 Lines: This week we conducted a factory acceptance test of this special Ryson Dual Track spiral conveyor. This is our 1300-400/2300-400 model with two independently driven inclining lanes, which are separated by a center guide rail, creating space to handle four production lines in a diameter of 9 feet. The Dual Track Spiral Conveyor is Ryson’s ultimate space saver by simply doing the work of 2 spirals in one compact footprint.

The Ryson Dual track spiral conveyor consists of two independently-driven spiral conveyors in the same chassis. They are the ultimate in space savings for vertical conveying when 2 lines are involved and can be configured for Dual Level Entry.

This week we shipped a rather unique dual track dual level entry spiral to a large beer distribution facility for our Integrator partner, ITW Warehouse Automation.

Dual Level Entry: In this application the dual spiral will feed cases of beer from two different levels of ITW’s automated picking system. The spiral lanes discharge at a common outfeed elevation, where they feed downstream palletizers.

Space-Saving Solution: This week Ryson is shipping a special spiral to Gonac Huamantla in Tlaxcala Mexico, a leading producer of snack foods and beverages for the Mexican market. They have chosen a custom Ryson Spiral to meet the needs of their packaging line application.

Their packaging process needed to convey two separate sizes of shrink-wrapped packs of juice beverages (20-pack and 24-pack) at the same time. They needed to decline from over 16 ft to 3 ft. and each line needed to be channeled into their own destination.

Instead of installing 2 separate spirals, they have chosen to use the Ryson’s 1700-600-A4 with 24” wide slats. That allows them enough space for a custom twin-lane design, allowing them to convey both sizes of packs in an orderly and secure fashion.

In doing so, they can transport two lines at 30 packs per minute running utilizing the same drive motor. This allows them to essentially have 2 spirals in the same space. The unit is still able to ship in a single piece and can be installed quickly to further reduce installation and integration costs.

For more information on Ryson’s Vertical Conveying Solutions, visit www.ryson.com

A Ryson Dual Track spiral models is being used as a solution to an downstream bottleneck.

Our Integrator partner, Sierra Conveyor, designed the finished case handling system for a confectionery company in California. It features a sortation switch at the infeed of the spiral which balances downstream accumulation of two lines that run through two case labeling stations. The jet printers have throughput limitations and the line balancing is required to absorb the total case rate exiting the case packers.

The Dual Track Spiral was an inventive solution and saved valuable manufacturing space. The spiral shipped assembled, reducing implementation time and costs. For more information on the space-saving Dual Track Spiral Design, visit www.ryson.com, or download the Dual Track Spiral spec sheet.

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Will Nichols, Sierra Conveyor’s project manager on this project. He was killed Saturday in a car accident. Will’s professionalism and attention to detail contributed to the success of this project.

Going over the Ryson maintenance manual during the FAT of a Ryson Dual Track Spiral Conveyor

This week we hosted another factory acceptance test (FAT) for The Jelly Belly Candy Company of Fairfield, California.

Our Systems Integrator, Sierra Conveyor Co., Inc, designed an upgrade to the Jelly Belly case conveyor system that delivers product to their robotic case palletizers. The new system uses a high speed lane divider prior to the spiral conveyor to automatically meter cases to one of the dual spiral’s lanes. This will help to balance the product flow to the three palletizers, speeding up their packaging lines.

The new spiral conveyor will also save floor space by replacing conventional incline conveyors. When the incline belts were worn, cases would often slide backwards. With the experienced Ryson engineering team, the spiral’s incline angle and built-in friction surface was designed to ensure the correct orientation and smooth transportation of the Jelly Belly cases through their 10 foot elevation change.

The spiral will also be prominent on the Jelly Belly factory tour, so your can see it run if you decide to visit. Stay tuned on more details and video on this project once the line is installed.

The Dual Track Spiral Conveyor from Ryson is the most efficient way to convey vertically in a very small footprint. It can be used to vertically double the volume or to elevate two product lines within a single unit.

The Dual Track Spiral pictured to the right is part of an installation at a brewery. If you look closely at the two tracks you’ll notice they are running different package lines. This allows cartons to run up beside cases for example. This has the potential to simplify and reduce product flow in the palletizing area.

In addition to slat width flexibility of two parallel tracks, the lanes of the dual spiral can operate independently and can convey up or down, and can optionally be reversible.